NEW DELHI: India emerged as the highest-performing market for Nestle in first half this year (CY2026) and is on track to be among its top five markets driven by “billionaire brands, volume-led growth and right value proposition across portfolio’’.“Emerging markets are driving growth for Nestlé across the board and India is leading the pack,” Nestle’s global CEO Philipp Navratil said in his first visit to the country, after taking the helm in Sept last year. At present, India is among its top 10 markets, and the potential to move up is “on the horizon’”, he said. In FY26, Nestle India, with household brands including Maggi, Kitkat and Nescafe, reported a revenue of about Rs 23,155 crore, showing a year-on-year growth of over 14%.“India has been an example of RIG-led (real internal growth) case for the company, which is why we are so inspired by the market. Pricing is important, but our focus is really on driving RIG-led growth.’’ Typically, RIG-led growth is selling more products (both mass and premium), and not led by pricing. “We will continue investing to support volume-led growth to tap rising consumption, urbanisation and the expansion of the middle class. We will not hesitate to make the investments necessary to capture that potential.’’India is also emerging as an export hub, with exports growing sharply and its products, capabilities and talent being taken to other markets, he added. “We look at India as a place where we can scale up business services and put AI across our processes. A lot of the work we do globally on noodles, spices and other areas is also done out of India (at the R&D centre) because the capabilities, knowledge and expertise are here.’’Navratil has backed greater transparency in packaged food labelling, saying that the company welcomes consumers making informed and healthier choices about the products they consume. “Consumers should look at labels, compare products and consider not only price, but also what goes into them, to help them make healthier, more informed choices.’’
